After passing my Army assessment last week I have chosen to got Intelligence Corps after reading a lot about it and was wondering what the assessment at chicksands consists of and how I can best prepare for it. Thanks 😁

I have recently passed my SCT and been cleared for the assessment centre. My CSM sent me the link for the Army Ready app, which includes a 4-week fitness programme. Because I have already been training and feel fully prepared for the physical tests, do I need to complete the entire 4-week app programme before I can book or attend my assessment?

Switching Roles Phase 1 at Catterick

Hi all

What are the chances of switching roles during phase 1 or phase 2. Infantry is still of great interest but, REME Armourer is also, and since working with rifles, I'm thinking about it more and more.

Armourer was the original preference before picking infantry but, the combat side of things won over at the time.

Anyway, as I said, not sure yet, but I'm wondering about it.

What's peoples thoughts?

I’ve got my assessment in a couple of days and I just wanted to ask some questions! Roughly how many people will be there and also is it easy to talk to people? I’ve got a rough idea of what is going to happen and I’ve also seen that people have said the hearing test is hard so is it is hard as they say? Thank you!

Hello folks,

I’m looking for some advice on whether I should stick with or postpone my phase 1 which is due in about 3 weeks. I’ve been dealing with inner shin/tibialis posterior issue for going on 10 weeks now which is mild to be fair but has caused me undoubtedly to lose fitness and reduce my activity.

Have been to see physio and while he hasn’t been able to pinpoint the issue he has some ideas. He has said that I he thinks I could go to training with the current state but basically their is a realistic risk of a flair up and downstream being backtrooped. Safe to say I’m not 100% confident the thing will hold.

So my question is should I go and try griz it out or ask for date to be pushed back in order to get this thing 100%

If anyone can shed some wisdom if any experience that would be much appreciated

Ive dreamt about being part of the Coldstream Guard for a while now, but is it a realistic dream i can pursue in? Is it hard to get in?

So I’m 16, fresh out of secondary school. I’ve completed my army assessment and medical and I’m going into Harrogate in September. However, I feel doubtful and worried about going and I am scared to leave everything behind and scared that I won’t enjoy it and then will have to start college later than everyone else. I want to go in my heart pretty badly but I just feel like it’s too soon. I have the option to go to college first and then go to the army, or should I just go straight into the army, or should I just not go into the army at all?

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice from those that have been in the reserve for a while or have achieved something similar.

So I'm a part of a national reserve unit, that basically means a few times a year I travel across the country to get my days in. this is normally one long weekend and one long just over two weeks camp, there are normally a few other things a year that I try to get involved in but not that many.

This works quite well for me as my civilian jobs hours are very unsociable, and I enjoy being a part of a National unit.

If possible I would like to put the uniform on and get involved a little more than I'm doing, I'm thinking a few extra hours a month. Have any of you successfully approached a unit close to you and asked if they need a helping hand with anything? If possible I would want to use the MTD's from the unit I'd be helping as I can't imagine my home unit being aggregable if they stand to lose out.

This may sound like a stupid question and unfortunately im going to refer to cadet experience.

When in cadets, before we went off to go and shoot blanks on mock exercise, our drills before would involve loading the rifle and putting on and securing our ear defense.

My question is, if you guys are on exercise, which in the real military is far more realistic, sya you got contacted, its not likr you'd have the time to pause the battle to put ear defense on. Do you patrol wearing it? Do you shoot without it?

Obviously ear defense is a thing especially on range what with that whole 3M incident, but what protection to do you have while on FTX?

Hi! How long does an appeal stay active for?

My medical documents got rejected due to a medical issue I had back in February 2025. The doctor quoted the JSP950 and it said how I have to wait 2 years from the medical issue and I also need to get a new mri.

I am going to call my doctor tomorrow to get a consultation for the mri. I’ve had no symptoms since so hopefully the doctor will add me to the waiting list.

Anyways, I was wondering will the appeal be active if I wait until February to submit or am I just better starting a whole new application again.

Thanks!

UPDATE: I called the GP and she had said that because i dont have the symptoms, and all of the original tests came back clear, she will not refer me to the Cardiologist. by going private, the tests required are going to cost me over 2 grand. is it worth the GP mentioning in my letter that all of the original tests came back clear?

Hi all,

I’m going through British Army recruitment and received a medical deferral earlier this year with a return date of 17 November 2026. I have all my supporting medical evidence ready for that date.

My recruiter has been largely unresponsive and I want to make sure I’m prepared for November.

A few quick questions for anyone who has been through something similar:

Can you walk into any Army Careers Centre on your deferral end date without prior recruiter contact and have things progress smoothly?

Can any recruiter access your file or does it have to be your assigned one?

How long did the medical team take to review new evidence after submission?

How smooth was the reapplication process on your actual return date?

Any advice from people who’ve been through a medical deferral would be really appreciated. Thanks.

Due to join the army this year and recently passed the assessment centre. Was wondering if there is any paratroopers who take part in Ironman triathlons to get a feel of how doable it is to compete alongside the demanding position of a para?

My little brother is going to the assessment soon is it still like prac? What do they get up to on the course?
And also what are the requirements for it?

Hello guys and ladies.

Assesment centre in around 2 weeks time now. I think i am ready i am nervous still about the 2km run my best time is currently 9.36 when i need 10.15 for infantry.

I would just like to hear some last words of advice from serving personnel and people who have passed the assesment centre to motivate me a little more.

Been given a date of october 18th of basic training if all goes well at assesment centre.

Ive dreamed of this since i was a young kid and now i am 30 chasing my dream. I will be 31 by the time i start basic. This is what ive wanted to do since a little boy and i am on the last step to make it happen.

Thank you all

I’m looking to join the army in ETS and was wondering what life is like and what to expect as an ETS Officer?

What’s career progression like?
Any benefits of this corp?
How often can I expect to be deployed and if so what am I doing?
What are day-to-day activities like?

Many thanks!

I’ve wanted to join the army since I was a kid having come from a military family, I have a history of diagnosed PTSD, Depression and Anxiety and I also take antidepressants currently and I was wondering if there is any chance I could still get in the army with these issues

Do they test blood pressure during the medicals at ph1? Thanks

I've been seeing so much conflicting things, surely if there was such a shortage people wouldn't be constantly getting rejected by capita.

What kind of tests and what happens at medical on basic training

Hi everyone,

My Assessment Centre is scheduled for next month, and I have a couple of questions:

During the cognitive test (ACT), am I allowed to use a pen and paper for calculations or notes, or is everything done mentally?

During the 2 km run, am I allowed to wear a smartwatch (such as a Garmin or Apple Watch)? If not, is there any way to know how far you have left to run during the test?

Thanks in advance for any advice or recent experiences!

A question for the reservists out there who can’t get away every year for ADX but want their bounty’s what else is on offer? Or do you simply miss out on the years bounty?

I can currently do 3k in 17mins, 2k in 9:40mins, 25 pushups and 4-5 pull ups in 1 set. I struggle most with the long distance running. I've still got a while until basic at Pirbright but im just wondering where I am fitness wise.

im due to go to atc pirbright at the end of august is there anything they dont mention to bring that i probably should or is everything ill need listed for me ive been sent the list but im just wondering

Hey, I’m just wondering what are the chances of getting posted to 2 rifles if you say you’re from Northern Ireland. Are they more likely to give you it or can you just be sent to any of the battalions?